New East Islip Pizzeria Offers Free Food For Less Fortunate

EAST ISLIP, NY - After only a month in business, a new pizzeria in East Islip is already looking to help the less fortunate in the area.

Bellina's Pizzera opened on 22 East Main Street on Nov. 3. Since then, customers have spotted a sign posted in the window of the new restaurant that reads, "If you are hungry, and have no money, we will feed you for free!"

"You know, there are sometimes people who don't have the money or had a bad year or lost their job or something so it's the smallest thing we can do to help them so at least they can have food," owner Mati Shatri, who is from Hicksville, said.

So far, Shatri and his co-owner Haki Mucaj, from Selden have extended the offer to about 10 people.

The two opened the business at the location of the former Martino’s pizzeria, which had been in business for 25 years.

"It's a good neighborhood and its a good location, the owners own the shopping center, the previous owner was in business for a long time," Mucaj said. "If you do the right thing the customers were come to support you, we have received so much support from the town and the residents."

The duo have been in the restaurant business for a long time, according to Mucaj and while they do not have immediate plans to open another restaurant soon, they will probably expand in the future.

Photos: Facebook.com/East Islip Community Chamber Of Commerce, Inc.